About
Our History
Dorothy Barry first opened the Montessori Children’s House on Lakeview Street in Pineville in August of 1978. Mrs. Barry had become interested in the Montessori Method of education and received her Montessori certification from American Montessori Society while living in St. Louis, Missouri. The school began with a morning only program with six children, ages three to six.
Over the years, Montessori Children’s House grew to become Montessori Educational Center. After being housed in several locations, the Board of Directors decided Montessori needed a permanent home in central Louisiana. Property was acquired, plans were drawn, and a new building was built at 4209 North Bolton Avenue in Alexandria. This has been the school’s home since August of 1996. Today, we offer authentic Montessori programs for children from toddler age to middle school.
Thanks to Mrs. Barry’s vision and dedication to establishing a Montessori school in our area, MEC continues to grow and thrive. With a firm foundation and a rich history, we are committed to building a community of creative, independent, socially responsible children who share a lifelong love of learning.
Dorothy Barry opened Montessori Children’s House on Lakeview Street in Pineville, LA. She received her Montessori certification from American Montessori Society while living in St. Louis, Missouri. The school began with a morning program of six children, ages three to six. Mrs. Barry was assisted by her niece, Marilyn Miller.
The Montessori method has always emphasized family involvement, and Mrs. Barry began a tradition of encouraging interested parents to consider Montessori training to become certified Montessori teachers. Mrs. Doris Armand, a parent of one of the early students, completed her training and became the first parent who was recruited to become a staff member. Mrs. Armand taught for more than 20 years as a Montessori teacher.
As enrollment grew, a new location was needed, and through contributions by parents, a small house on Beech Street in Alexandria was purchased in 1981. The name was changed to Montessori Learning Center, and Donald Barry, husband of Dorothy and an educator himself, joined the staff.
More growth in numbers of students and staff meant another move, and the school reopened on the first floor of the Pan American engineering firm office at the corner of Bolton and Jackson streets in Alexandria. The school incorporated and became Montessori Educational Center, Inc. With more space to grow, the school expanded to two primary environments and the elementary program was extended through sixth grade.
Donald and Dorothy Barry retired and returned to Missouri. The Barrys remain honored and beloved members of the MEC community. Donald passed away in 2016 at the age of 94; Dorothy lives in Missouri and visited MEC to celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary.
After seven years in the PanAm building, MEC moved to its permanent facility on North Bolton Avenue. The new campus housed an upper elementary, two lower elementary, and two primary environments. At that point, the school had 117 students enrolled with a staff of 16. During the 1997-1998 school year, a third primary environment was added, resulting in an enrollment increase to 129 students and 21 staff members.
To meet a growing interest in a program for younger students, MEC added a toddler building to the campus on North Bolton Avenue. The toddler program serves children ages 18 months through three years of age.
To accommodate continued growth and interest in enrolling middle school students, a new building that included a middle school classroom was added to the campus. The junior high program and curriculum design are based on the model created by Dr. Betsy Coe, an internationally renowned Montessori teacher and principal of the middle and high school at School of the Woods in Houston, TX.
Dorothy Barry joined current students, alumni, teachers, retired teachers, and parents of the MEC community to celebrate 40 years. The school that she opened in 1978 with six primary students has grown to an enrollment of almost 200 students who range in age from 18 months to 14 years.
Meet the Administration, Faculty & Staff
MEC has an outstanding team of faculty and staff with a wide range of experiences to bring to each classroom. Click on the names of our administration and faculty to learn about their experience or to get their contact information.
Joelle Flaherty
Head of School
Joelle Flaherty
Head of School
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:joelle.flaherty@mecalex.org
Lisa Clair
Assistant to Head of School
Lisa Clair
Assistant to Head of School
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:lisa.clair@mecalex.org
Meghan Flaherty
Administrative Assistant
Meghan Flaherty
Administrative Assistant
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:meghan.flaherty@mecalex.org
Wayne Layssard
SRO
Tiffany Bailey
Toddler Teacher
Tiffany Bailey
Toddler Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:tiffany.bailey@mecalex.org
Jemma Lortie
Toddler Teacher
Jemma Lortie
Toddler Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:jemma.lortie@mecalex.org
Sarah McCartney
Toddler Teacher
Sarah McCartney
Toddler Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:sarah.mccartney@mecalex.org
Bobbie Parker
Toddler Teacher
Bobbie Parker
Toddler Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:bobbie.parker@mecalex.org
Kate Devine
Toddler Assistant
Ary Deaton
Primary Teacher
Ary Deaton
Primary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:ary.deaton@mecalex.org
Elissa Cooley
Primary Teacher
Elissa Cooley
Primary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:elissa.cooley@mecalex.org
Shahla Khalid
Primary Teacher
Shahla Khalid
Primary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:shahla.khalid@mecalex.org
Megan Riché
Primary Teacher
Megan Riché
Primary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:megan.riche@mecalex.org
Teresa Strandquist
Primary Teacher
Teresa Strandquist
Primary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:teresa.strandquist@mecalex.org
Coty Verdin
Primary Teacher
Coty Verdin
Primary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:coty.verdin@mecalex.org
Amy Andrus
Primary Assistant
Amy Andrus
Primary Assistant
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:amy.amdrus@mecalex.org
June Jones
Lower Elementary Teacher
June Jones
Lower Elementary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:june.jones@mecalex.org
Lisa Rozas
Lower Elementary Teacher
Lisa Rozas
Lower Elementary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:lisa.rozas@mecalex.org
Angela Hayes
Lower Elementary Teacher
Angela Hayes
Lower Elementary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:angela.hayes@mecalex.org
Eddie Scroggs
Lower Elementary Teacher
Eddie Scroggs
Lower Elementary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:eddie.scroggs@mecalex.org
Patrick McGinty
Upper Elementary Teacher
Patrick McGinty
Upper Elementary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:patrick.mcginty@mecalex.org
Penny McGinty
Upper Elementary Teacher
Penny McGinty
Upper Elementary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:penny.mcginty@mecalex.org
Charity Rodgers
Upper Elementary Teacher
Charity Rodgers
Upper Elementary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:charity.rodgers@mecalex.org
Buffy Stroderd
Upper Elementary Teacher
Buffy Stroderd
Upper Elementary Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:buffy.stroderd@mecalex.org
Susan Ward
Middle School Teacher
Susan Ward
Middle School Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:susan.ward@mecalex.org
Sue Sullivan
Middle School Teacher
Sue Sullivan
Middle School Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:sue.sullivan@mecalex.org
Miss Jane
Science Teacher
Miss Jane
Science Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:jane.fillette@mecalex.org
Naomi Tullos
Fine Arts Teacher
Naomi Tullos
Fine Arts Teacher
- Phone:(318) 445-0138
- Email:Naomi.Tullos@mecalex.org
Meet the After School Staff
Our after school staff stay with students from 3:00 p.m. until they are picked up in the afternoons.
Pam Bailey
After School Staff
Joyce Brocato
After School Staff
Alexis Cox
After School Staff
Haleigh Franklin
Toddler After School Staff
Vickie Longino
After School Staff
Tina Major
After School Staff
Sharron Rusk
After School Staff
Chrissy Tanner
Toddler After School Staff
Darlene Thompson
After School Staff
Wanda Strother
After School Staff
Meet the Board of Directors
Click on members of the Board of Directors to learn more about their experience and connection to MEC, as well as contact information.
Heath Wester
President
Heath Wester
President
- Email:heath.wester@mecalex.org
Elliott Ewing
Vice President
Vacant
Treasurer
Vacant
Treasurer
Elaine Beck
Secretary
Elaine Beck
Secretary
- Email:elaine.beck@mecalex.org
Angie Turner
MPA Representative
Brannon Andrus
Member at Large
Brannon Andrus
Member at Large
Alfonso Augustine
Member at Large
Alfonso Augustine
Member at Large
Mindy Bayonne
Member at Large
Nola Day
Member at Large
Nola Day
Member at Large
- Email:nola.parker@mecalex.org
Camille Jackson
Memeber at Large
Camille Jackson
Memeber at Large
During her eleven years as an MEC parent, Camille has served in many capacities, including as president of the Montessori Parent’s Association and MEC Board of Directors.
Camille is a member of the Louisiana Bar Association and a past board member of the Alexandria Bar Association and Louisiana Bar Foundation. She is married to Trey Jackson, a local orthodontist, and is the proud mother of a middle school student at MEC.
Sybil Montegut
Member at Large
Camille Robison
Member at Large